keeps



(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 1. A. KR-EPS.

MECHANICAL KILN DRYING APPARATUS.

No. 366,672. Pategted July 19, 1887.

III in n m N PETERS. Plmlo-Ll'hngrapher, Washmglon. D. c.

'2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. KEEPS. MECHANICAL KILN DRYING APPARATUS.

Patented July 19, 1887.

N PETERS, Phuwmm mwn Washingkm. D.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTE KEEPS, OF AN'IWVERP, BELGIUM.

MECHANlCAL KlLN-DRYING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,672, dated July 19, 1887.

Application filed October 5, 1986. Serial No. 215,397.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUcUs'rn Knnrs, a subject of the King of Belgium, residing at Antwerp, in the Kingdom of Belgium, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Kiln -Drying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has for its object the construction of a mechanical kiln-drying apparatus which kiln dries grain with extraordinary rapidity and perfect regularity, so as to give products of incomparable beauty-and quality, such as it has never been possible to obtain by the use of any system of kiludrying hitherto employed.

The invention consists in the special arrangement of receptacles for grain to receive heat by radiation from a center common to them all in such a manner that the heat can always penetrate uniformly and thoroughly the receptacles containing the grain. Apparatus fulfilling these conditions is shown in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a plan of the system as a whole. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the drum. Fig. 3 is a front view of the drum. Fig. 4 is a section showing diagrammatically the arrangements of the grain receptacles. Fi 5 is a perspective view of one of those receptacles with its lid shown open. Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the receptacle in the condition in which it is when operated or in use. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the slide and guides enlarged. Fig. 8 is a cross-section of the drum.

The drum, properly so called, consists of two end disks, P, between which are arranged symmetrically radiating grain-receptacles (1, extending longitudinally. These are preferably in the form of narrow sectors, and c011- sist of a suitable iron framing, which is covered with wire net-work having long meshes-a fabric which is consideredpractically most ad vantageous for the purpose in view. The

frame consists of a bar, a, of half-round iron at the top of the sector and two round rods, t t, at the base. The rods 15 1. are connected to a by V-ribs 7, having the angle of thesector. The wire not which covers this framing may be attached in any suitable manner, provided that it presents sides that are straight and tightly (No model.)

Patented in Belgium August 11, 1886, No. 74,193.

stretched. The sector is closed at its base by a cover, 0, riveted to the rodst t. The sectors thus constructed are fixed in radial arrangement between the disks P, their summits dirceted toward the axis of the drum, and supported at each end on an angle-iron, ring, or other suitable bearing fixed at the required distance from the center of each disk. The ends of the rods a t t are screw-tl'ircaded and passed through holes in the disks, and secured by nuts, so as to constitute a firmly-connected whole. Theends of the wire nets are riveted to angle-irons, which are bolted to the disks, so that each receptacle or chamber containing the material to be treated is bounded by the wire nets (2, the cover 6, and those parts of the disks P which form the ends of the sector. One of the disksPis perforatedmearits eircu inference, with circular holes K, each opening into the middle of a sector. These openings serve for introducing into the chambers the grain to be dried, and are of such size that sacks of grain can be easily poured in by a suitable spout. In a circular guide fixed on the disk 1 there is fitted to slide a ring having through it-opeir ings K, which can be made (by turning the ring) to coincide with the openings through P, the sector-chambers being thus opened; but when, by means of handles P, fixed to the ring, it is turned so far that the intervals between its holes cover the holes of the disk, the dryingchambers are closed. The ring is thus a circular sliding cover, which has only to be moved the width of a hole the one way or the other to open or else close simultaneously all the sector chambers.

On the circumference of one of the disks 1 is fixed a toothed rim, H, with which gears a pinion, F, for giving rotation to the drum. At the center of each disk F is fixed an on tcrnal hollow trunnion, Z, which revolves in a bearing, X, bolted on a rectangular frame, A B CD, within which the drum is thus mounted. This frame is itself furnished with trunnions E at the middle of its longitudinal sides, and these work in suitable stationary bearings, so that the drum can be placed with its axis horizontal, vertical, or inclined by simply canting the frame and fixingit where desired.

An inlet-pipe, U, passing through the 11ollow trunnion Z, admits steam or any other hot pose might be employed with equal advantage instead of the arrangement described.

' The action of the apparatus is as follows: The frame A B C D, and consequently the drum, being placed in a vertical position, the holes K are opened by sliding the circular ring. The malt or other material to be dried is introduced through the holes K into the sector drying-chambers, which are then closed by moving back the ring. The drum is then brought to a horizontal attitude, so that the grain is uniformly distributed along the sectors. Steam is then admitted to heat the coil S, which radiates its heat, that penetrates in all directions into and between the sectors (1,

charged with malt, Then the material contracts by the heat, so that after a certain time there is void space in each sector, such that the grains can be turned over and over and shifted in all directions when the drum is put at the same time thoroughly cleaned, as it undergoes in the sectors a vcontinued sieving, whiehclears it of foreign matter, such as dust, &e. In order to discharge the grain, the drum is inclined a little downward, and the hole K being opened the grain runs outon turning the drum.

Obviously the sectors could be made wider than those shown in the drawings, and fewer in number. The receptacles might even be semicircular; but it is evident that in this case the layers of grain would be much thicker and the heat could not penetrate to their interior. In other words, the heating-surface would be lessened and much less uniformly distributed for the quantity of malt to be treated, and this is precisely the reason why the fiat sectorsha'ped receptacle, containing a layer of only moderate thickness, has been adopted in this system.

Evidently, instead of a sector, a simple chamber of rectangular shape and moderate depth might be used; but on account of the circular form the sector is preferable, so much is exposed to the heat.

I may observe that according to the hygrometric condition of the atmosphere where the apparatus is worked, it may or may not beinclos'ed in a covering or plate.

I claim 1. In a mechanical kiln-drying apparatus, the combination, with ahollow rotatable drum having drying-chambers within its walls, of central heat-ing pipes within the hollow drum extending the whole length thereof, said drying-chambers being so arranged that each of them has the same temperature at all times during the revolution of the drum, substantially asset forth.

2. In a mechanical kiln-drying apparatus, the combination of two heads, grain-drying receptacles arranged between said heads, openings in one of the heads, one for each receptacle, and a suitable slide common to all of said openings,for closing them when required,substantially as set forth.

3. In a mechanical kiln-drying apparatus, the combination of two heads, grain-drying receptacles arranged between said heads, openings in one of the l1eads,one for each receptacle, a circular guide on said head, and a circular slide within said guide havingperforations equal in number to the said openings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a mechanical kiln-drying apparatus, the combination,with two heads, of grain-drying receptacles arranged between said heads around a common source of heat, V-shaped ribs arranged at suitable intervals, wire netting applied to said ribs, and longitudinal rods constituting said receptacles, said rods having suitable means of connection with said heads, substantially as set forth. 7

AGUS. KEEPS.

Witnesses: Q

' ALPHONSE ROGERS,

FREDERICK VON WREDE.

IOO 

